SHENDURNEY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 

SHENDURNEY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

GENERAL INFORMATION

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, part of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve owes its name to the endemic species, Gluta travancorica, locally known as "Chenkurinji". The sanctuary was established in 1984 and lies on the western part of Agasthyamala Ashambu hill range with an altitudinal span of 92 m to 1950 m. Shendurney valley and the catchment of Kallada Irrigation Project fall within the boundaries of this protected area. The drainage comprises the major rivers Shendurney, Kazhuthurutty and Kulathupuzha which together join to form the Kallada river and the major tributaries are Parappar, Uruliyar, Pasmakandamthodu, Aruviar and Umayar.

HISTORY

The tract dealt with in this report is exclusively the property of the State Government of Kerala. This Sanctuary consists of only a portion of Kulathupuzha Reserve Forests. In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection Act, 1972 (Central Act 53 of 1972), the Government of Kerala vide G.O.(P) 258/84/AD, dated 25th August 1984 declared this tract to be a sanctuary for the purpose of protecting, propagating and developing wildlife
and its environment. This is the only wildlife sanctuary in Kollam district.

Originally, this tract was brought under the administrative control of Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division. Later it was shifted to the administrative control of Thenmala Forest Division vide G.O, (ms) No. 41/91 F&WLD dt.21.5.1991. Then in 1996, Shendurney Wildlife Division was established as-per G.O. (Rt) No.117/96/F&WLD dt. 19.3.1996 and the post of Assistant Wildlife Warden was upgraded to that of Wildlife Warden, Shendurney. At that time, Peppara sanctuary was also included in this Division. A post of Range Officer,. Agasthyavanam Biological Park Division was diverted and transferred to this Division as Assistant Wildlife Warden, Shendurney. Thereafter, Peppara Sanctuary was deleted from this Division and amalgamated to Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division in May 1998.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Shenduruny head quarters is at Thenmala which is 75 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, 70 Kilometers from from Kollam,30 Kilometers from Schengottah and 22 kilometers from Punalur.

GEO PHYSICAL FEATURES

a)     Location

The Sanctuary lies in Pathanapuram Taluk of Kollam District between the latitudes 8⁰ 44 to 9⁰ 14N and the longitudes 76⁰ 5930E and 77⁰ 1630E. It covers an area of 171 sq.km and is contiguous with the 791 sq.km Kalakkad-Mundathura Tigar reserve in Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary Head quarters is at Thenmala which is 75Km from Thiruvananthapuram, 70 Km from Kollam and 30 Km from
Shencottah.

b) Year of establishment with Government Order

GO(P)NO.258/84/AD dated, 16 August 1984.

c) Annual Rain fall

This area receives both South west and north east monsoon rains of which the former, with a longer duration, lasting from may to August and even extending up to September, is important. During the Season the sky is generally over cast and there may be incessant rains for days together resulting in high floods. The north east monsoon is intermittent and usually occurs in the afternoons during late September, October, November. The average annual rainfall varies from 2,600-3000 mm.

d) Major peaks with altitude

Alwarkurichi peak          -1550m.

Ambakkallu motta         - 1169m. 

Perianuruttimala            -894m

MAJOR FOREST TYPES

The forest types are identified in this Sanctuary as per the revised Survey of the forest types of India by Champion & Seth (1968).

1. West Coast tropical evergreen forest.

2 West coast tropical semi-evergreen

3. Southern hill top tropical evergreen forest.

4. Southern Sub Tropical hill forest

5. Southern secondary moist mixed deciduous forest.

6: Reed brakes

7. Myristica Swamps.

8. Grasslands

 

FLORA 

Type of forest / ecosystem with major species.

The different types of forests and major species are as follows:

1. West coast tropical evergreen forest

The major species are Gluta travancorica, Mesua ferrea. Calophyllum, Cullenia exarillata, Palaquim ellipticum, Elaeocarpus tuberculatus, Poeciloneuron indicum

 

2. West coast tropical semi-evergreen forest

The major species are Dipterocarpus Indicus, Vateria indica, Mangifera indica, Myristica dactyloides, Ficus sp. Toona ciliate, Artocarpus hirsutus, Dalbergia paniculata, Dalbergia latifolia.

3. Southern hilltop tropical/evergreen forests Southern sub tropical hill forests

The major species are Alaia bourdillonii, Poeciloneuron indicum, Arnottiana species, Vernonia trancorica, Garcinia travancorica, Bhesa indica, Eugenia discifera

4. Southern secondary moist mixed deciduous forest

The major species are Pterocarpus marsupium, Terminalia paniculata, Terminalia bellercia, Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Sterculia guttata, Bombax
ceiba, Dillenia pentagyna

In addition to the above major forest types, the area also supports grasslands, reeds and small patches of Myristica swamps.